BLISTER Gear Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles
Flash Review: 20/21 Rossignol BLACKOPS Sender Ti
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the brand-new BLACKOPS Sender Ti.
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2020-2021 Moment Deathwish
We’ve been putting quite a few days on the latest iteration of the Moment Deathwish, and you can now check out our full review & Deep Dive comparisons.
Deep Dive: Moment Deathwish
We compare the Deathwish to the Moment Wildcat 108, Moment Meridian, Shaggy’s Ahmeek 105, Icelantic Nomad 105, Blizzard Rustler 11, Faction Prodigy 4.0, ON3P Woodsman 108, ON3P Jeffrey 108, Nordica Enforcer 110, Sego Big Horn 106, Line Sir Francis Bacon, & K2 Mindbender 108 Ti.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Nordica Announces New Santa Ana Skis
Nordica announced today that they’re overhauling their excellent Santa Ana skis. Check out our writeup to see what’s new with the 20/21 skis.
Flash Review: 19/20 4FRNT Renegade
Check out our initial on-snow impressions of the Renegade.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
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Trail Sisters founder, Gina Lucrezi (Ep.35)
Trail Sisters is a trail running community for women and an online journal that offer lots of great resources — including articles and stories, grants, retreats, directories for female coaches, trail locations, and races that meet the trail sisters standards for gender equity. So we spoke to Gina Lucrezi, the founder of Trail Sisters, about the unusual way in which Gina got into running; her impressive accomplishments as a runner; the remarkable things happening at Trail Sisters; the ways you can get involved with and support Trail Sisters; and more.
2021-2022 Åsnes Voss Z’N
Åsnes is a Norwegian brand that has been making skis for 95 years, and this year we’re testing their big-mountain-touring ski, the Voss Z’N. Check out our video First Look & writeup.
Thor Verdonk: A Life in Ski & Ski Boot Design (Ep.117)
In the world of ski and ski boot design, Thor Verdonk is well known and very well respected. So we talked to Thor about his background, his 25+ year career with the Rossignol Group and how he became the Global Brand Director for Lange, then we talk about the history of ski design and ski boot design; developing the Rossi S7; and we get his predictions about what the ski industry will look like 10 years from now.
Armada Announces New Declivity Skis
Armada just announced a completely new line of directional, metal-laminate skis that features some interesting technology. Check out our writeup to learn more about the new 20/21 Armada Declivity Series.
Winter Baby Outerwear Roundup
If you’re looking for ways to let your little one comfortably enjoy the (cold) fresh air this winter, check out our baby outerwear roundup where we cover a variety of pieces from one-pieces to jackets to overalls.
Win a 2-Night Stay at Elevation in Crested Butte
Enter for your chance to come ride with us in Crested Butte!
The Future of Lange & the New XT3 Ski Boot (Ep.83)
On our latest episode of GEAR:30, we talk to Lange’s Global Brand Director, Thor Verdonk, about Lange’s use of “dual core” technology; why “ski boots should be alive”; the brand-new, 3rd generation, Lange “XT3”; heat-moldable shells; 3d printed boots; the future of Lange; and more.
2021-2022 Atomic Backland 107
We’ve had two reviewers skiing Atomic’s Backland 107 on everything from July suncups to deep mid-winter pow. Check out our Full Review & Deep Dive comparisons of this freeride touring ski.
Deep Dive: Atomic Backland 107
We compare the Backland 107 to the Black Diamond Helio 105, Blizzard Zero G 105, K2 Wayback 106, Line Vision 108, Ampler Facelift 108, G3 FINDr 102, 4FRNT Raven, & Moment Wildcat Tour 108.
Bike Industry Predictions for the Next Decade (Ep.14)
What will the mountain biking industry look like 10 years from now? What current product categories have the most room for improvement, and where will the actual advancements in bike tech take place by the end of 2029? What categories of riding will have grown, and which will have shrunk? We discuss all of this and more, including our wildest predictions for this next decade.
BLISTER Reviews, Podcasts, & Articles:
Jean-Luc Diard on the Deckers X Lab Design Philosophy & Products (Ep.85)
We’re talking again with one of the most influential product designers in the outdoor industry, Jean-Luc Diard, about the design philosophy of Deckers X Lab, a number of the models in the Deckers Lab lineup, and why they are trying to rethink everything from the standard flip flop to the casual sneaker to the suspension systems of high-end, performance shoes.
Blister Summit Panel on Ski Design
We talk to ski designers from Blizzard, Folsom, Rossignol, Dynastar, & Wagner Skis about their respective design philosophies; current trends in ski design; whether skis are being dumbed down today; whether stated sidecut radius numbers are fake; current consumer interests; and more.
Flash Review: 21/22 Atomic Hawx Ultra 130
Dylan Wood spent some time in the revised version of Atomic’s lightweight alpine boot, and here he shares his initial thoughts on its overall performance and how it differs from the previous version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
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2021 Rocky Mountain Altitude
The Altitude has been in the Rocky Mountain lineup for more than a decade now, but what, exactly, the Altitude is has changed a lot over the years, and the bike got a dramatic overhaul for 2021. We’ve been riding the latest iteration, and have found it to be surprisingly versatile for a 160 / 170 mm travel Enduro bike.
Reviewing the News w/ Cody Townsend (April 2021) (Ep.167)
Cody and Jonathan discuss some recent criticism of REI; spraying vs. not spraying the locations of your outdoor adventures; Mt. Bohemia’s plan to incentivize vaccinations; gear libraries & outdoor accessibility; sex and ski touring; & more.
TRP TR12 Drivetrain
TRP’s TR12 drivetrain is marketed as a high-end option at a high-end price, but can it compete with the likes of Shimano XTR and SRAM X01? Check out our full review to find out.
Deep Dive: Folsom Rapture
We compare the Rapture to the Volkl Shiro, DPS Alchemist Lotus 124, 4FRNT Renegade, Kye Shapes Numinous, Praxis Protest, Moment Chipotle Banana, DPS Foundation Koala 119, Volkl Revolt 121, Faction La Machine, Blizzard Spur, Blizzard Rustler 11, & Whitedot Ragnarok ASYM.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
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Ski Touring Gear & Listener Questions (Ep.146)
Which tech bindings feel the most like alpine bindings? What “very light” skis offer the best suspension and damping? In this episode, Luke Koppa and Jonathan Ellsworth talk about a bunch of ski touring gear they’ve been reviewing and answer a number of your touring-related questions.
Win a Sleep System from HEST
This week the winner will get HEST’s high-end, memory-foam mobile sleep system!
Flash Review: 21/22 Elan Ripstick 106 Black Edition
Elan is once again offering a special “Black Edition” of their Ripstick 106 for 21/22 — check out our initial thoughts on how it compares to the standard version.
Blister’s Flash Reviews and Deep Dives are accessible to those who purchase one of our paid subscriptions
To get our comprehensive Deep Dives and our initial, unfiltered reports on new gear, become a member and receive many other services, deals, and discounts.
If you’re already an active member, please log in.
(If you’re already logged in and a member in good standing and seeing this message in error, please refresh this page in your browser.)
2021-2022 Folsom Rapture
“One of the most versatile powder skis I have ever used” — that’s what reviewer and heli-ski guide Paul Forward said about the Folsom Rapture. Check out his full review & Deep Dive comparisons for more on how the ski has performed during a full season of heli skiing and during days at the resort.
Mojo Suspension & Geometron Bikes founder, Chris Porter (Ep.64)
Chris Porter has long been known as one of the earliest and most vocal proponents of the longer/lower/slacker trends in mountain bike geometry, and his Geometron bikes have pushed the envelope further than just about anything else out there. Chris has opinions on a whole lot more than just bike geometry, though, and in our recent conversation we got his takes on wheel sizes, eBikes, suspension tuning, Vladimir Putin(?), and a whole lot more.